Sign



A rils, 1930. s, FISCHER ET AL 1,154,153

SIGN

Filed June 4,- 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS' Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNlE STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL FISCHER AND JAMES J. BRESLIN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SIGN Application filed .Tune 4,

This invention relates to improvements in signs generally and more specificallyto the type of sign which is adapted to be lllllmlnated by a natural light. In t-h1s type of sign the rays of natural light enter an aperture at the top of a casing, penetrate a sheet of glass or other transparent material having lettering or symbols thereon and reflect the lettering from an inclined surface so that the same may be observed through the front of the sign casing.

Signs of this general character, whlle adaptable for advertising or display pur poses generally are particularly useful when employed for display on the top of a publlc vehicle, as for instance, a taxi-cab, although of course, it is not intended to be limited to such use.

One of the primary objects of this invention is the providing of a sign having these general characteristics that can be used at night when there is no natural light. lVith this end in view we equip our sign with artificial lighting means to be used after dark in lieu of the daylight or sun, and this artlficial lighting means is so associated with the sign casing that the same is not visibleto the observer, nor does the same interfere in any way whatever with the natural light when not in use.

It is further our intention to provide such a sign that will be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet is very durable and attractive as to appearance and also one wherein the parts willbe readily capable of assembly and replacement in case of breaka e.

So that a clearer understanding of this invention may be had, reference is made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure lis a perspective view of the sign,

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a top sectional view along line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

1928. Serial No. 282,788.

Fig. 4 is a front sectional view along line 44: of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional side view.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the sign casing or housing which is preferably in the form of a quadrilateral, although obviously it may assume any other configuration; 2 is the top of the casing having an opening 3 thereiny is the open front thereof, which front is at an angle approximately 90 with respect to the top 2.

The sign casing is adapted to be placed as shown in Figure 2, the front 4 being vertical or substantially so with respect to a supporting surface where one is intended, it be Both of the glass plates 5 and 6 and the reflector 8 are adapted to be inserted through the open front l and are engaged at their edges by guideways 9, which guideways are provided with a sealing strip 10 to more or less yieldably grip the edges of the plates and reflector and so prevent the same from breaking or cracking due to jarring.

The entire casing is supported by standards 11 fastened to a supporting surface and the casing is pivoted as at 12 near the upper end thereof. Each standard 11 has an arouate slot therein and the sides of the casing carry adjusting screws 13 whereby the casing may be adjusted around the pivots 12 and the reflected light and lettering thrown either up or down as desired.

. From the above description it will be seen that the suns rays or daylight entering through the opening 3 in the top of the casing penetrate the glass plates 5 and 6, reflect the lettering upon the lower plate from the inclined reflector 8, out through the opening front 4 and give the appearance of the letters standing vertically to an observer.

Both of the plates 5 and 6 are made of colored glass such as deep red or amber so that they will tend to diffuse the light rays.

In order that the sign may be utilized after dark, We provide electric lights l t at the rear of the casing. These lights are surrounded by reflecting surfaces 15 and the rays from the lamps-are reflected thereby outwardly between the glass plates 5 and 6, penetrating them and reflecting the lettering on the lower plate from the'inc 'lined reflector 8 outwardly through the front. 1

In order that the lights 14 will be unobserved from without the casing a molding strip 16 is disposed across the front top edge of the housing. This .molding strip 16 is channel shaped and detachably connected to the sides of the casing as at 17 Within the channel interior of the molding 16 is placed at an angle an auxiliary reflector 18 which will reflect'back and through the lower plate 6 the rays from the lamps that originally passed between the plates 5 and 6. At this point it is to be noted that the upper glass plate 5 is utilized to diffuse the rays that would be cast upwardly from the lamps, although it will be appreciated that when the sign is in use only during the daytime it is not necessary to employ the top plate 5 as the rays from the sun or daylight will enter directly through the top and not be thrown from the side between the plates as when the lamps are employed.

While the above described sign is one form of the invention, yet it willbe apparent that the structure may be varied without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, instead of having the'open front for the housing the same may be enclosed with 'a glass as at 19 which is adapted to be inserted through the upper edge of the front when the molding strip 16 is removed, the .lower edge of this glass plate resting in a retaining strip 20 which isso formed asto also hold the forward edge ofthe reflector plate 8.

It is to be observed that the molding strip 16 when attached retains the two top sheets of glass 5 and '6 at their forward edges and also the front glass when used and holds them all in assembled relation.

As hereinbefore mentioned, this device may be adapted for use on the top of a motor vehicle, although not necessarily limited to such use. When the same is placed on a vehicle, however, the lamps will be connected with lighting circuits so that when the driver turns on the driving lights at night the artificial illuminating means in the housing will be lighted andcause the display of the sign.

It will'alsobe observed that in lieu of using a plurality of lights it may be necessary to only employ one when the dimensions of the casing are reduced in size and it will be further apparent that more than two top plates of glass could be used.

As heretofore suggested, one of the primary features of this construction is that the artificial lights in no way interfere with the source of natural light and there is no manipulation of parts required outside of a switch to cause the artificial source of light to function properly.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: I

1. A display sign comprising acasing, an opening'at the top thereof for the admission of natural light, a plurality of spaced apart transparent plates within the casing adja cent the opening, one of said plates carr ing symbols to be displayed, a source of arti cial light within the casing positioned approximately between the planes of the plates and means for reflecting both the natural and artiiicial light through the front ofthe casing.

2. A display sign comprising 'a casing, an opening at the top thereof for admitting natural light, a plurality of transparent spaced apart plates adjacent the opening,-one of said plates carrying symbols to be displayed, electric lights within the casing at the rear thereof and located between the planes of the plates, reflectors for the electric lights and a second reflector disposed at an angle to the top for displaying the natural and artificial light V 3. A display sign comprising a casing having a top and an open front, an opening at the top for admitting natural light, a plurality of transparent spaced apart plates adjacent the opening, one ofsaid plates carrying symbols tobe displayed, electric lights within the casing at the rear thereof and located between the, planes of the plates, reflectors for the electric lights and a second reflector 'disposed at an angle to the top for displaying the natural and artificial light through the open front.

'4. A display sign comprising acasing having a top adapted to be approximately horizontally disposed, a bottom disposed at ap proximately to the top, a front at approximately a 90 angle to the top, an opening in the top for admitting natural light, a pair of spaced apart plates within the casing adjacent the opening in the top, the lower of which plates carries symbols to be displayed, an artificial light within the casing adjacent the plates, a reflector in the casing positioned along the bottom thereof for reflecting the symbols on the lower plate through the front of the casing.

5. A display "sign comprising a casing, a top having an opening therein for admitting natural light, a pair of transparent plates within the casing adjacent the opening, the If;

- light onto the second mentioned reflector.

6. A display sign comprising a casing, a top having an opening therein for admitting natural light, a pair of transparent removable plates adjacent the opening, one of which plates bears lettering, an electric light within the casing at the rear thereof and located adj acent the plates, a reflecting surface surrounding the electric light, an open front for the casing, a transparent removable plate covering the front, a reflector disposed at an angle within the casing to display the lettering through the front, a molding strip at the top edge of the front for retaining all the transparent plates in assembled relation and an auxiliary reflector for the electric light placed at an angle within the molding strip 7. A sign comprising a casing having a natural light opening, adisplay opening, a source of artificial light within the casing, a reflector within the casing, a transparent plate bearing symbols to be displayed, the plate being interposed between the display opening and reflector on one hand and the light opening and source of artificial light on the other.

8. A sign comprising a casing,having a natural light opening in one wall thereof, a display opening in another wall thereof, a transparent plate bearing display symbols between the openings within the casing, an electric light on the same side of the plate as the natural light opening and a reflector disposed at an angle to the display opening and located on the same side of the transparent plate as said display opening.

9. A sign com-prising a casing'having an opening in one wall thereof for admitting natural light, a sight opening in another wall thereof, a source of artificial light within the casing so positioned as to be hidden from an observer, a transparent plate carrying lettering disposed to one side of both the natural light opening and the source of artificial light and reflecting means within the casing for reflecting through the sight opening the light rays passing through the plate from the source of light.

10. A display sign comprising a casing having a top, a bottom, sides and a transparent front, means in the top of the casing for admitting natural light, transparent means within the casing adjacent the first mentioned means and bearing symbols to be displayed through the front, a reflector within the easing disposed at an angle to the top and front for displaying the symbols on the transparent means, a source of artificial light within the casing adjacent the transparent means and adapted to project its rays successively therethrough upon the reflector and through the front of the casing.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

SAMUEL FISCHER. JAMES J. BRESLIN. 

